Sherman Douglas could have gotten more money and more minutes elsewhere. But the 33-year-old point guard put others factors ahead of dollars and playing behind Stephon Marbury when he chose the Nets.

“The familiar surroundings had something to do with it. Going to a place you’re comfortable with is not too far off. That really had a lot to do with it,” said Douglas, who yesterday officially signed on for his second tour of duty with the Nets, inking a two-year, minimum-wage deal with the second season at his option.

“There are enough minutes,” Douglas said, assessing the role that will place him as Marbury’s backup – but at times, alongside Marbury as well.

“Stephon is a great player and he’s going to be the starter and get the bulk of the minutes. I’m going to go in and supply leadership and spark coming off the bench. Any time you get a situation where you have a veteran point guard behind a younger point guard, when he leaves the game I don’t think things will slip by me coming back in there.

“I know the guys on the team. I know everybody individually and what they can do so I just want to go in there, contribute and play my game,” said the former second-round pick by Miami (one of the teams that tried to lure him back). “You get everybody healthy and on the same page, we have the talent to go to the playoffs.” The Nets received some rare good news on the medical front yesterday. An MRI on Scott Burrell’s right hand and wrist proved negative and X-rays of Jamie Feick’s right foot also were negative. Burrell has experienced numbness in his hand, believed to be from a pinched nerve in his wrist. Feick sprained his foot Wednesday and sat the 105-99 victory over the Knicks.